The Battle of Kadesh 2016

Editor: Alaa Awad created "The Battle of Kadesh" in 2016, using mixed media. What a dynamic piece. It feels like organized chaos. What springs to your mind when you see this work? Curator: Total visual feast, right? It reminds me of flipping through history books as a kid, all those grand narratives bursting from the pages, reimagined as raw, contemporary graffiti. The energy, the colours - it feels incredibly urgent. It's like Awad's asking: how do we interpret history when it's splattered with the messy realities of today? Does it evoke anything specific for you? Editor: I see the chaotic energy you described, but how does that relate to "The Battle of Kadesh"? I admit I don’t know a lot about it… Curator: Ah, the real battle! Ancient Egypt, chariots, a whole lot of posturing. Awad’s hinting that those ancient power struggles, those monumental battles, aren’t so far removed from the conflicts we see today. It's that echo of the past resonating in our present. That use of figuration in combination with bold graffiti aesthetic seems a great choice. What do you make of that mix of abstraction and recognizable forms? Editor: I think it makes it feel both historical and super modern at the same time, a clever trick. So, it is meant to be a little jarring and confusing, almost? Curator: Exactly. It is exciting! The jarring is the point. This piece really makes you confront how we package and sell history, doesn’t it? Editor: It does. I initially saw chaos, now I see intention. Thank you, that’s helpful.